🔋 Edison-inspired battery charges in seconds, endures 12,000 cycles for decades
An international research collaboration co-led by UCLA has developed a nickel-iron battery prototype that recharges in seconds and maintains its performance for over 12,000 cycles. This endurance is equivalent to more than 30 years of daily recharges.
“The technology’s fast charging, high output and robust endurance suggest a good fit for storing excess electricity generated at solar farms during the daytime, to power the grid at night. It may also be useful for backup power at data centers,” explained the researchers.
The technology uses nickel and iron clusters smaller than 5 nanometers, meaning 10,000 to 20,000 clusters could fit within the width of a human hair. By using these dimensions, the researchers increased the electrode surface area. This efficiency enables the battery to reach a full charge in seconds rather than the seven hours required by historical versions of the technology.